Submitted by Mnr001 on
in
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I have been listening to MT for over a year. I try to develop myself by reading Fortune, Wall Street Journal and several other periodicals. I am a big fan of GTD and try very hard to implement this program into my professional life. I am a engineer and a manager. My last boss was an engineer and while not perfect did understand the technical aspect of the business. All of my current bosses are not engineers but are finance people. I have problems communicating to them the engineering aspects of the company but my biggest issue is their lack of professionalism. They (including the CEO) come into meetings with spiral bound notebooks and a Holiday Inn pen and often make jokes about my Moleskine notebooks and simple Parker pens. They've never heard of GTD and believe that the only way to motivate anybody is through fear. I am routinely told by my boss that my job is on the line; however whenever there is a technical problem or a employee issue that requires a bit of maturity he comes to me. I am looking for a different situation but need some assistance on how to deal with a boss who is unprofessional and often makes fun of you (in front of others) for trying to be professional. I would appreciate any assistance.
You need to fit in. That's
You need to fit in. That's always a good starting point. It sounds like you may just not be a good cultural fit where you are, but it is the position you find yourself in. You're clearly someone who is interested in being effective and in personal growth. Someone who is really good can succeed in almost any environment, and you could just look at this as a challenge in finding success ouside of your comfort zone and typical habits. Take a DISC profile assessment and listen to the related casts. A recurring theme will be adjusting your communication style for the listener. The same type of thing can be said about other aspects of human interaction as well: most people are more comfortable being around other people that are like them.
You can also try to find ways to show your boss how your different strengths can complement his. I always look to my team to make up for areas where I am weak. Perhaps your attention to detail or project management skills could be put to use helping someone else out.
In the meantime, get your resume ready. You have a bad boss if he's regularly telling you that your job is on the line (unless it's actually deserved!). Start warming up your network.